Cabaye on strike as Newcastle midfielder refuses to play following Arsenal bid

Yohan Cabaye is refusing to play for Newcastle United until his future is resolved and he will be unavailable for Alan Pardew until after transfer deadline day.

Arsenal had a £10million bid turned down for the £40,000-a-week France international last week and they are due to make an improved £15million offer for a player valued at at least £20million by Newcastle, who paid Lille £5million for him two years ago.

Paris St Germain have the financial clout to match that valuation but although manager Laurent Blanc - who is Cabaye's former international manager - has shown considerable interest in the midfielder this summer, the French club so far have yet to make a move.

VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger on signing Cabaye

Missing: Cabaye is refusing to play until his future is resolved

Cabaye missed the 4-0 drubbing at Manchester City a week ago but was also absent, through his own choice, for Saturday’s goalless draw with West Ham. He will also be missing from Fulham’s visit to Tyneside on Saturday, with central partner Cheick Tiote struggling with a hamstring injury.

Although a looping injury-time cross from Sammy Ameobi deceived Jussi Jaaskelainen and hit the post, and Yoan Gouffran somehow put the rebound over the bar, Newcastle did not manage a single shot on target against West Ham. They did manage 14 off target, particularly from the wayward boots of Hatem Ben Arfa. It is the first time in eight seasons a Barclays Premier League team has not had a single shot on target.

Only a small pocket of Newcastle supporters chanted the previously popular Cabaye’s name. Keen to protect a player he has described as among the best midfielders in the world, Pardew refused to become embroiled in discussing Cabaye’s future.

Careful: Pardew is refusing to discuss Cabaye's future in depth

'The situation is quite simple,' he said. 'We need to resolve it and get ourselves in a position where he stays, great, and if he doesn’t, get someone equally as good. That is where we are at and I don’t want to say any more than that.'

The Newcastle manager heard the boos which greeted the final whistle, and the relief West Ham had not converted three excellent chances to win the game.

Although the absence of Cabaye and Tiote offered an opportunity to Vurnon Anita, last summer’s most expensive addition, the performance highlighted Newcastle’s brittle squad, and more inactivity in the transfer window.

One banner, proclaiming the absent director of football Joe Kinnear as a clown, was immediately hidden away by stewards. But there is no disguising the fact Newcastle need immediate investment.

Clowning around: This banner at St James's Park was hidden away by stewards

Pardew said: 'We need a little bit more than Vurnon and Cheick if we lose Cabaye, because he gives us that final, killer dagger to the heart.

'I said to Vurnon last year, with the pace, the toing and throwing, the power in the Premier League, he needed to get a grip of it because it bypassed him at times.

'We’ve worked a little bit harder on him in the summer and talked about certain things. When he brings his game to this team, as he did today, he can be an asset for us.

'He is very much a big part of what we are going to do. We’ve spent a lot of money on him, invested in him and invested time in him to help him.'

Disbelief: Yoan Gouffran reacts after missing an open goal against West Ham

Ignoring the fact he missed his side’s best chance against his former side, ex-Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan said he is confident Newcastle will stay out of trouble.

Nolan said: 'It’s been tough for the fans, the team, the players and for Alan, so the fans need to stick behind them and they’ll do OK. They were brilliant today and the lads have got to stick together in that dressing-room.’

One West Ham player who Kinnear failed to land was England winger Stewart Downing. Although ineffective in his return to the North East as a surprise replacement for Joe Cole, Downing is determined to relish his time under Sam Allardyce, who has still to lose to Newcastle since he was sacked four years ago.

Rising high: West Ham's Kevin Nolan (right) missed a golden chance against his former side

Downing said: 'Newcastle enquired about me, but it sounds like their owners are similar to Liverpool on transfer fees and wages, the player’s age. That all comes into it and I think that was obviously a problem for Alan Pardew.

'It was one I was interested in and I looked at, but when I spoke to Sam he wanted me straight away and pushed the boat out to get me and there’s nothing more you want as a player.'